Acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



No. 652,409. Patented June 26, I900. J. W. TALLMADGE.

'ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

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J. W. TALLMADGE.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 26, 1899.

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No. 652,409; Patented June 26, I900. .1. w. TALLMADGE.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS, I

(Application filed Dec. 26, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets$heat 3.

lllllllllllllllfilfl i llllll llllllillllllgarrnn Sra'rns PATENT JAMESTALLMADGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO W'ILLIAMHENRY BAZLEY, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACETYLEN E- -GAS G EN ERATiNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,409, dated June 26,19010. Application filed December 26,1899. 'Seria1N -7 1 (N0 modem T0aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. TALLMADGE, a citizen of the United States,residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gasby the application of water to carbid, the supply of wafor beingautomatically controlled by the pressure of the gas generated from thecarbid, especially to that class of apparatus in which the water isbrought into successive contact with a number of comparativelysmallquantities of carbid each arranged in a compartment or a receptacle byitself; and the invention or improvement consists of certain novelconstructions and arrangements of parts fully described below, wherebythe operation or process is facilitated and a high degree of safetyattained.

. The nature of the invention is described in detail below andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a centralvertical section of an acetylene-gas apparatus embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a detail in elevation of a portion of the inside of the tank,illustrating a locking device. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus,the water not being illustrated. Fig. at is a horizontal section takenon line 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the float and nest ofcarbid-receptacles removed. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of thecarbid receptacles or drawers.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. a

A represents the watertight tank, open at the top and divided by thehorizontal partition A into a main compartment and a smaller lowercompartment A, the latter being for the purpose of receiving thecondensation from the house-supply pipe B. This compartment A isprovided with a vent a at the proper height and a plugged outlet a fordrawing off the liquid. p

O is a central vertical pipe resting on the bottom of the tank andextending up through the partition A to a suitable point above the topof the main portion of the tank. This pipe has an opening below thepartition A, whereby it connects with the house-supply pipe, and asmaller opening 0 into the compartment A. The condensation flows fromthe pipe Binto the pipe Oand thence through the hole 0 into thecompartment A, the pressure of the downflowing gas in the pipe C keepingthe level of the liquid in said pipe lower than the level in thecompartment A, the level in said compartment being regulated by thevent-hole a.

D is the bell, of suitable diameter to enter the tank A, formed with thetop D and partitionD at a short distance below the top, as shown inFig.1, and rigid on the pipe or tube E, which extends well down toward thelower end of the bell for steadying it and up through its upper end,being closed at the top.

F is a sleeve set around the lower portion of the pipe E and removablysecured thereto near its end in any desired manner, such as by anordinary pin and slot. The upper portion of the sleeve F is preferablyflaring at F, and opposite such flared portion the pipe E is providedwith an opening E, whereby connection is made with the air or gaschamber G in the bell. The sleeve F is provided near its lower end withthe float H, whose sides H are formed with perforations h. and which ispreferably braced to the sleeve at H. The float contains water up to thelevel of the perforations h; but above said level the float containsair, as shown in Fig. 1. This float is so set that its lower edge is alittle lower than the bell, so that when the bell,with the sleeve lockedto it, is removed and the whole placed upon the upper edge of the tankthe float only will touch such edge and the bell can be rotated, thefloat remaining sta- 9o tionary by friction, and thus the bell and thefloat disengaged and the former lifted in order that thecarbid-receptacles (below described) can be reached. The engaging contrivance or look between the float and the bell is mentioned above, andconsists of a pin 1), Fig. 1, on the sleeve F and a slot (indicated bydotted lines I) in Figs. 1 and 5) in the pipe E, such locking devicebeing of course not new in itself considered. The float being he I00 lowthe carbid-receptacles is always immersed and constitutes agas-governor, governing the pressure of the gas and holding up theweight of the carbid.

The carbid-receptacle holder consists of a series of V-shaped cases K,each forming a compartment open at its outer end and with its inner endrigidly secured to the sleeve F. These cases are preferably securedtogether, as well as to the sleeve, and are arranged spirally andradially with regularity around said sleeve, as indicated in Figs. 4 and5, so that they come in contact with the water successively and withperfect regularity. In each of these cases or compartmentsK there is aslidingly-arranged drawer consisting of a bottom L and sides L, saidsides being preferably formed of an integral sheet of metal bent intothe shape illustrated in Fig. 6, the whole being adapted tosubstantially fit into one of the compartments and being provided withthe downwardly-extending handle L. Within each drawer is a bag 0, Figs.1 and 4, of textile or porous material, filled with carbid. These bagsof carbid are previously prepared and uniformly filled, so that theweight of the carbid is the same.

M M are the two portions of a vertical U- shaped pipe, Figs. 1 and 4E.The upper end of the portion or leg M is within the bell D on a levelwith the bottom of the lowest carbidreceptacle. Thence the pipe extendsdown vertically along the inner surface of the bell, through it, and upvertically along the outer surface-the inside portion being lettered Mand the outside portion or leg Mand its outer. end is connected by aflexible tube on with a blow-off pipe or safety-pipe N, the

- lower end of which extends into the interior of the bell. When thebell is lowered into the tank of water, the air therein passes outthrough the pipe M M into the blow-off pipe N until the upper end of theportion M descends below the surface of the water, when the water entersand it operates as a trap. While the apparatus is working this pipe isconstantly acting as a trap. After the bell has been removed the upperend of the flexible tube m is removed. from the pipe N and the water isblown out of the pipe M M before the bell is again placed in position.This contrivance obviates all necessity for blowing off the air throughthe burners, and thus getting air into the house-pipes.

P is a water-tight closed structure mounted on the partiton D andextending up through the top D of the bell. This structurecontainswater, as shown, and a vertical pipe P extends from an opening in thepartition D to a point in the upper portion of the structure P. r

A pipe R connects with the blow-off pipe N and extends through the topinto the structure P to a point at the lower portion thereof. Afilling-pipe P extends from the outer air down into the structure P.When the bell is lifted out of the tank, the air enters through the pipeR and is forced through the water in the structure P and passes downthrough the pipe P into the chamber G, thus allowing the bell to belifted without the use of a checkvalve and adding tothe safety of theappliance. In lifting the bell so much air is taken in that the gasbecomes non-ignitible when the apparatus is opened, owing to thedistance which the bell must be lifted, such distance being determinedby the distance between the carbid-receptacles and the float H. When thebell is in position, the structure P, with its contents, constitutes atrap.

. On the inner surface of the tank A are a pair of grooved ways S S,(see Fig. 2,) converging at their lower ends and with their upperportions sufficiently apart to receive between them a bracket T, towhich is pivoted a latch consisting of a heavy end U and a light endU,extending across the ways S S, which have their inner flanges removedat these points for the purpose. The upper ends of these ways areflared, as shown at S.. A pin V, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, extends radiallyfrom the outer side of the bell D, near the lower end thereof. \Vhen thebell is inserted in the tank, the pin V slips by thedownwardly-extending lighter end U of the latch and into the way S andthen descends gradually as the masses of carbid are acted upon. When thecarbid has been exhausted, the pin V is at the bottom of the way S,andby slightly rotating the bell it is turned under the way S, and as thebell is lifted out lifts and slips under the heavy portion U of thelatch. Thus while the apparatus is operating the latch U prevents thebell from being lifted out,'and it cannot be lifted until all the carbidhas been immersed and the gas exhausted. Hence the gas and the aircannot become mixed and safety is insured.

By providing horizontally-sliding drawers for the carbid instead ofreceptacles which must be lifted off vertically I save headroom inlifting the bell. This is a great advantage in large machines, whichare, say, four feet in height, so that there is about twelve feet lift.

In operation the tank is first nearly filled with water. The structureshown in Fig. 5 is then placed on slats or bars laid across the top ofthe tank. are supplied with carbid and are slid into position in thecases K. The bell D is then placed upon said structure and locked to it,as above described. The whole is then raised to remove the slats or barsand lowered into the tank, causing air to pass out through the pipes M,m, and N until the bell sinks sufficiently to bring the lowestcarbid-receptacle into contact with the water, when the trapped Next thedrawers L L portion of the pipe M M will fill with water and preventfurther escape of gas through it. p

All air is thus extracted, and when the burners are lighted a full-sizedflame is obtained. As the gas is burned off the masses of carbid in thedifferent receptacles come successively in contact with the water as thebell descends against the sustaining power exerted by the air above theperforatons him the float II. When the burners are closed, the gasformed in the machine from whatever moisture there may be from thecarbid which is being operated on at the time of closing lifts the bell,taking the carbid out of the water, and the generation of gas ceases.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the combination with the tank A, bell D and vertical pipe0; of the sleeve I a spirallyarranged series of carbid-receptaclessecured to the sleeve near its upper end; and a float independent ofsaid carbid-receptacles and secured to the sleeve near its lower end ata considerable distance below the carbid-receptacles, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the combination with the tank A, bell D and vertical pipe0; of the sleeve F; a spirallyarranged series of carbid-receptaclessecured to the sleeve near its upper end; and a float II, II secured tosaid sleeve near its lower end and at a considerable distance below thecarbid-rcceptacles, said float being formed with a series ofperforations h at an appreciable distance above the bottom thereof,substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the bell D supporting a series of carbid-receptacles; thetank A; a blew-off pipe extending from the bell up through the tank; andthe U shaped pipe M, M extending through the vertical wallof thebell-and with its shorter leg M opening at its upper end inside the bellat about the level of the lowest carbid-receptacle and with its longerleg extending up on the outside of the bell and adapted to be connectedwith the blow-off pipe, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the combination of the bell D and pipe E; the sleeve F,carbid-receptacles secured thereto and float II, II secured to the lowerend thereof, the sides of said float extending below the lower end ofthe bell; and means for detachably connecting said bell and float,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the tank D; a pair of grooved Ways secured to andextending down the inner side of said tank and open at their lower ends;a latch locking one of said ways against a descending bolt and leavingthe other way unlocked; and the bell D provided on its outer verticalside with a pin or bolt adapted to be moved down one of the ways and upthe other, in combination with means carriedby said bell for supportingcarbid and generating gas, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the bell D provided with the outwardly-extending pin orbolt V; means carried by said bell forsupporting carbid and generatinggas; the tank A; the ways S, S secured to the inner side of said tankand with their lower ends connected; and the latch comprising theheavier end U and the lighter end U and pivotally secured between theways, said heavier end resting normally against and closing one of saidways, substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the tank; the bell D provided with the partition D; theclosed receptacle P extending from said partition up through the top ofthe tank; the vertical pipe P opening at its lower end into thegaschamber and at its upper end into the receptacle; the inlet-pipe Popening at its lower end into the receptacle; the blow-off pipe Nextending from the interior of the bell to a point above the same; andthe pipe R connecting theinterior of the receptacle P with the blow-offpipe substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described for the manufacture ofacetylene gas, the bell; a series of carbid-receptacles; aregulating-float, said float being below the carbid-receptacles andnormally immersed in the water; a rigid connection between the float andthe carbid-receptacles; and a c011- nection between the bell and thecarbid-receptacles, substantially as set forth.

JAMES WV. TALLMADGE.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, A. N. BONNEY.

